USS Curtis Wilbur Changes Command

YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JAPAN

10.17.2019

Courtesy Story

Commander, Task Force 70 / Carrier Strike Group 5

(Oct. 21, 2019) YOKOSUKA, Japan – Cmdr. Diane Cua relieved Cmdr. Zachary King as commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) on October 17, 2019.

The change of command ceremony was held on Naval Base Yokosuka.

“I will miss the pace, the mission, the routine and this waterfront,” said King. “ I will miss serving with Master Chief Jimmy McGill, Cmdr. Diane Cua and the Sailors, Chiefs and Officers of Curtis Wilbur most of all. You are the finest group of individuals I have ever served with and the strongest team I have ever been a part of.”

King served as the commanding officer from July 2018 to October 2019, leading the Curtis Wilbur through a seven-month deployment immediately after assuming command, multiple joint and multinational exercises, and to win the Pacific Fleet’s 2018 anti-submarine warfare (ASW) "Bloodhound" award.

"The Curtis Wilbur and ships of Destroyer Squadron 15 will continue to complete the mission and uphold a standard of excellence,” said Cua. “During her lifetime, Curtis Wilbur has steamed to every corner of this region to defend our country and support our allies in the Pacific. I am excited as well as honored to stand humbly before you as Curtis Wilbur’s Commanding Officer."

Cmdr. Cua, who served previously as executive officer aboard Curtis Wilbur, is a San Diego, California, native.

Curtis Wilbur is assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.

-USN-

• Date Taken: 10.17.2019
• Date Posted: 10.22.2019 08:41
• Story ID: 348579
• Location: YOKOSUKA, KANAGAWA, JP